Was Trump convicted of anything? What the president-elect's convicted felon status means

Donald Trump has been declared the winner of the 2024 U.S. presidential election . After defeating Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump will serve a second term in the White House as the 47th President of the United States.

Despite being president-elect, Trump still faces criminal charges relating to interfering with the 2016 presidential election. What does this mean, and how will his status as a convicted felon impact his presidency? Here's what we know.

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What does 'convicted felon' mean?

A convicted felon is anyone who has been found guilty of a felony — a category of crime that's more serious in nature and typically comes with greater penalties.

In most cases, being a convicted felon has significant implications for U.S. citizens, varying by state. For example, such convictions can prevent individuals from voting and applying for certain jobs and loans.

Is Trump a convicted felon? What was Trump convicted of?

In a historic six-week trial in May, Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records after high-profile witnesses laid out the evidence that he allegedly covered up hush money payments to a porn star to hide another crime. The jury of 12 made the decision unanimously.

They alleged Trump falsified the records to conceal unlawfully interfering in the 2016 presidential election through the $130,000 hush money payment, making the falsification charges felonies. The crime carries a penalty of up to four years in prison, but legal experts previously told USA TODAY that Trump is likely to get only probation or a shorter sentence .

The sentencing was initially scheduled for July 11, but New York's Judge Juan Merchan granted its postponement after Trump's lawyers requested more time to get the decision overturned via the Supreme Court's July 1 i mmunity decision — which protects Trump from prosecution related to some actions he took as president, as they relate to his interference with the 2016 federal election.

Then the criminal sentencing was pushed back a second time, as Merchan justified its delay to maintain neutrality on the presidential election. Trump is scheduled to appear in court for the highly-anticipated sentencing on Nov. 26.

Can a convicted felon be President of the US?

Just weeks prior to the 2024 U.S. presidential election, people took to social media to question Trump's legitimacy to run for office once more after being found guilty of 34 felony counts in the state of New York.

Neither the 14th Amendment nor any other part of the Constitution bans felons from taking office, an expert told USA TODAY . The section referenced in the post prohibits anyone who took an oath to uphold the Constitution and "engaged in insurrection" from taking office, but a Supreme Court decision in March requires Congress to act in order for it to be enforced.

Did Trump vote as a convicted felon?

. Trump resides in Florida, where it is usually difficult to vote as a convicted felon. However, for those convicted in other states, it defers to the laws of the state in which the individual was prosecuted.

CNN reports Trump was allowed to vote in Palm Beach under a 2021 New York law granting people convicted of felons the right to vote as long as they aren't incarcerated at the time of the election.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis confirmed Trump's right to vote months ahead of the election. If there had been any issues, DeSantis said he would see that the state clemency board removed any barriers to Trump's ability to vote, according to Politico .

"The bottom line is that Donald Trump's vote this November will be one of millions that demonstrate Florida is now a solid Republican state!" the Florida governor wrote on X in May.

Is Trump the first felon president?

Yes, Trump is the first convicted felon to win a U.S. presidential election. The Republican politician attracted even more support after his felony convictions than in the 2016 race, before the trial.

"It is remarkable how intensely loyal his support remains," said Marc Short , who served as chief of staff to former Vice President Mike Pence. Pence declined to endorse Trump and has criticized him over the Jan. 6 capitol insurrection.

Trump campaign senior adviser Tim Murtaugh said the criminal charges that Trump still faces — which his supporters view as political persecution despite no evidence they are politically motivated — blunted criticism of the former president as a vengeful leader who would seek retribution on his enemies.

"That is precisely what his political opponents are doing to him right now," Murtaugh said.

Trump is also the first former president to be convicted of a felony and the second convicted felon to run for the presidential office. Over a century ago, Socialist candidate Eugene V. Debs ran for president for the fifth time. Debs was in an Atlanta prison for sedition during the 1920 election, serving a ten-year sentence for speaking in opposition of the country's involvement in World War I, Smithsonian Magazine reports

Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry ran for president alongside Trump in the 2016 Republican primary after being indicted two years earlier for abuse of official capacity and coercion of a public official, but he dropped out of the race a few months into the primary.

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The rights of those convicted of felonies vary by state. In cases like Florida, the state where an individual was convicted can be just as important as the state of residence. Black Law's Dictionary lists the following rights a convicted felon risks losing in the U.S.:

— USA TODAY contributed to this report.